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- Album This song officially appears on the With the Beatles (Mono) LP.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Jan 01, 1962
Radio audition at BBC Manchester
Feb 12, 1962
Jul 18, 1963
Jul 30, 1963
Aug 21, 1963
Oct 29, 1963
Get Back sessions - January 10, 1969 - Day 7
Jan 10, 1969
Other 1963 songs part of the 2005 US Tour setlist
Officially appears on She Loves You / I'll Get You
Officially appears on Please Please Me / Ask Me Why
Related interviews
Paul McCartney discusses songwriting and RAM with Mansun's Paul Draper
May 28, 2012 • From Drowned In Sound
It's exciting, it's shocking, it's frightening, it's sad, it's happy, and it's THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY
Nov 01, 1995 • From Club Sandwich
Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.
Song facts
From Wikipedia:
“Till There Was You” is a song written by Meredith Willson for his 1957 musical play The Music Man, and which also appeared in the 1962 movie version. The song is sung by librarian Marian Paroo (Barbara Cook on Broadway, Shirley Jones in the film) to Professor Harold Hill (portrayed by Robert Preston) toward the end of Act Two. It became a hit for Anita Bryant in 1959 and was later covered by The Beatles in 1963.
History
The first recording of this song to be released came even before the original cast album version of January 1958. Promotional copies of the 45 rpm single, Capitol P3847, were released on November 26, 1957, even before the Broadway production had premiered on December 19. Produced by Nelson Riddle, it featured his orchestra and 17-year-old vocalist Sue Raney. An earlier version of this song, “Till I Met You”, was first recorded by Eileen Wilson in 1950 and later appeared on the January 14, 1951 edition of The Big Show, performed by Fran Warren.
The Beatles version
Included on their albums With the Beatles (UK release, 1963) and Meet the Beatles! (US release, 1964), the song was the only Broadway tune that the Beatles ever recorded.
Paul McCartney was introduced to Peggy Lee’s music by his older cousin, Bett Robbins, who would occasionally baby-sit the two McCartney brothers. McCartney said: “I had no idea until much later that it was from The Music Man.” “Till There Was You” was part of the Beatles’ repertoire in 1962 and performed at the Star Club in Hamburg. It became illustrative of the Beatles’ versatility, proving they could appeal to all sections of an audience, moving easily from ballads to rock and roll, as in their appearance on November 4, 1963 at the Royal Variety Performance when they followed this song with “Twist and Shout“.
The band had previously performed “Till There Was You” as part of their failed audition for Decca Records in London on January 1, 1962, and it was the second of five the group sang during their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.
Live versions of the song were released on Live at the BBC (1994) and Anthology 1 (1995). The latter version was recorded when the Beatles played at the Royal Variety Performance; because the album was cut so that live numbers began with the actual song, John Lennon’s famous request that those in the royal box “rattle your jewelry” to “Twist and Shout” is in fact included on the “Till There Was You” track. When introducing this song (likewise placed on “She Loves You” for Anthology), McCartney commented that the song “had also been recorded by our favourite American group, Sophie Tucker“. This tongue-in-cheek comment by McCartney unwittingly began an urban legend that “Till There Was You” was an old Sophie Tucker song, when in fact, there is no record of her ever performing the tune.[…]
From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:
- [a] mono 21 Aug 1963.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1206 With the Beatles 1963.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46436 2 With the Beatles 1987.- [b] stereo 29 Oct 1963.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3045 With the Beatles 1963.- [b1] stereo remixed from [b] 1963, by Capitol.
US: Capitol ST 2047 Meet the Beatles 1964.- [b2] mono made from [b] 1963, by Capitol.
US: Capitol T 2047 Meet the Beatles 1964.
Paul McCartney added “Till There was You” to the setlist of his 2005 US Tour, and a live performance appears on his DVD The Space Within US.
Last updated on February 8, 2016
Lyrics
There were bells on a hill
But I never heard them ringing
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you
There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you
Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows
Of dawn and dew
There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you
Then there was music and wonderful roses
They tell me in sweet fragrant meadows
Of dawn and dew
There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you
Till there was you
Officially appears on
LP • Released in 1963
2:14 • Studio version • B • Stereo
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
LP • Released in 1963
2:14 • Studio version • A • Mono
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 21, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1964
2:16 • Studio version • B2 • Mono • Mono made from [B] by Capitol
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Official album • Released in 1964
2:16 • Studio version • B1 • Stereo • Stereo remixed from [B] by Capitol
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Official live • Released in 1994
2:13 • Radio show • L1 • A song from the musical ‘The Music Man’, popularised by Peggy Lee. Australian born broadcaster Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman presented two From Us To You specials and his quirky sense of fun clicked with the Beatles. While Paul picks out a few heroes, John attempts to draw Fluff’s attention to his book ‘In His Own Write’ published a week earlier.
Concert From "From Us To You" in London, United Kingdom on Mar 30, 1964
Official album • Released in 1995
2:54 • Live • L2
Concert From "Royal Command Performance" in London, United Kingdom on Nov 04, 1963
Meet the Beatles! (2004 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2004
2:16 • Studio version • B2.2004 • Mono • 2004 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Meet the Beatles! (2004 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2004
2:16 • Studio version • B1.2004 • Stereo • 2004 remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Ted Jensen :
- Remastering
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
With the Beatles (Mono - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:14 • Studio version • A2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Paul Hicks :
- Remastering
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Aug 21, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
With the Beatles (Stereo - 2009 remaster)
Official album • Released in 2009
2:14 • Studio version • B2009 • Stereo • 2009 stereo remaster
- Paul McCartney :
- Bass, Vocals
- Ringo Starr :
- Bongos
- John Lennon :
- Acoustic rhythm guitar
- George Harrison :
- Acoustic lead guitar
- George Martin :
- Producer
- Norman Smith :
- Recording engineer
- Guy Massey :
- Remastering
- Steve Rooke :
- Remastering
- Sam Okell :
- Remastering
- Allan Rouse :
- Project co-ordinator
- Session Recording:
- Jul 18, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Recording:
- Jul 30, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road
- Session Mixing:
- Oct 29, 1963
- Studio :
- EMI Studios, Studio Three, Abbey Road
Bootlegs
Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962
Unofficial live
2:43 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.
Unofficial live
3:23 • Live
Concert From the concert in Des Moines, USA on Oct 27, 2005
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 2
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:21 • Live
Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Jun 11, 1963
The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 3
Unofficial live • Released in 2003
2:16 • Live
Concert From "Saturday Club" in London, United Kingdom on Jun 29, 1963
Live performances
“Till There Was You” has been played in 79 concerts.
Latest concerts where Till There Was You has been played
Los Angeles • Staples Center • USA
Nov 30, 2005 • Part of The US Tour
Los Angeles • Staples Center • USA
Nov 29, 2005 • Part of The US Tour
Las Vegas • MGM Grand Garden Arena • USA
Nov 26, 2005 • Part of The US Tour
Las Vegas • MGM Grand Garden Arena • USA
Nov 25, 2005 • Part of The US Tour
Phoenix • Glendale Arena • USA
Nov 23, 2005 • Part of The US Tour
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